Car Overheating. In Need Of Advise

[carl23]

Hi all. In need of advise about my car. It overheated twice in a matter of 2 minutes. There is water in the car and it has been running perfect all day. Prior to it overheating i heard a weird noise. as though I had a window open. Pulled over turned the engine off and popped the bonnet. All i heard when i popped the bonnet was a gurgling noise. The fan cuts in as good as gold but not cooling the car. Waited a few minutes tried again and within 1 minute it had overheated again. Managed to get it back on my drive and left it now. I got no water leaks at all. The only thing I was told when i brought the car was that one of the propellers had a bit missing but it has been running perfect until today.

It's a fiesta zetec (with the zetec s engine) on a 2000 plate.

Any advise would be grateful.

[StornowayBlue]

It could be any number of things, sticky thermostat?

[carl23]

I've just taken it for a drive and its working fine. Was informed it happens on a very rare occasion. Could it still be thermostat getting jammed now and again.

[StornowayBlue]

An intermittent cooling fault could be attributed to a sticky thermostat. Don't roast the motor for the sake of a cheap part. Pay attention next time it overheats to the heaters, ie are they warm or cold. Check also the hose going from Rad to block. If this is cold could imply stat is stuck. Head Gasket wont like too many overheats.

[carl23]

Ok I'll keep an eye on it. And I'll get the new part tomorrow. I'll let you all know how I get on thank you for the advise.

[Nathan_M]

I suppose you have felt the rad to see if its heating evenly, to rule out a blockage?

[dogma1978]

Other thing is has the coolant been changed recently. If it has im wondering a possible air lock somewhere

[Nathan_M]

Other thing is has the coolant been changed recently. If it has im wondering a possible air lock somewhere

You will very often hear these inside the car if they get to the heater matrix as a rushing sound, have you tried turning the interior heater control to maximum hot out of interest and what difference did it make?

[Stoney871]

Also check that the cap on the expansion tank is tight and sealed properly.

Surprisingly a loose or badly sealed cap can cause problems.

[carl23]

The rad is heating evenly. It has not had a coolant change that I am aware of. With the heater on full it does not make a difference but i am getting hot air from the heater. I've just gone out in the car came back and lifted the bonnet to see if I can hear the noise again. The only noise I can hear is from the expansion tank. The sound is like a bubbling sound. Never heard before until yesterday and today.

[Stoney871]

There could be a crack somewhere in the expansion tank or like I said previously a leaking lid.

[Nathan_M]

Take lid off and check that the rubber o ring is still in residence

[dogma1978]

Not sure about the modern fiesta's but the older ones sufferd with a air lock in the inner heater matrix. Has the car always used coolant and not just water. if not rust could have caused a partial blockage. Sounds like a blockage, or as someone said, the Thermostat. Personally i would empty, flush out with proper chemical flush and then try. At the same time replace the thermostat. If that fails then a bad blockage somewhere

[DieselPig]

Sounds like the impeller on the water pump has parted company with the drive shaft, take the water pump off to check.